Decisive action by Willett staff saves life of Ron Donovan

If it wasn’t for the decision-making skills and decisive actions of the medical staff at The Willett Urgent Care Centre, Paris local Ron Donovan’s story may have had a much different outcome.

When Ron arrived at Urgent Care suffering intense pain, it wasn’t long before he was diagnosed and then rushed by ambulance for emergency surgery to repair an often-deadly abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Just a few hours before, Pat Donovan – Ron’s wife – had returned home from dropping the couple’s grandchildren at the bus stop to find her husband doubled-over in an armchair.

“He was moaning and groaning and carrying on,” she said, explaining how he complained of an intense pain radiating in his abdomen.

Ron described the pain as being extremely uncomfortable first thing in the morning after he woke up, but as the day progressed his discomfort level spiked. That’s when they decided to visit The Willett.

“I worried that it was a burst appendix,” Pat said.

As part of the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS), The Willett Urgent Care Centre in Paris is a specialized healthcare department for patients suffering from medical problems or minor injuries requiring medical attention. Patients arriving at The Willett are usually suffering from coughs, colds, minor cuts, strains and sprains; cases that aren’t classified as emergencies, but can’t wait to see a family doctor.

“A volunteer took him at the door, while I parked the car,” said Pat. “When I came back, he was in a bed already.”

Ron was quickly triaged and nursing staff checked his vital signs.

Dr. Mike Pysklywec, an Urgent Care physician was called to determine what was causing Ron’s intense pain. He ordered an ultrasound that was conducted by imaging technician Chinaza Chuks-Mady, who revealed that Ron had a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm about the size of a large balloon.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulge in the wall of the abdominal aorta – the largest artery in the abdomen. It’s similar to the bulge in the sidewall of a tire. Many AAAs go unnoticed, but when they begin to expand or rupture, they can become extremely painful. The mortality rate is high for this type of aneurysm, and many patients die when their aneurysm ruptures before they can get to a hospital for assessment and a surgical repair.

Dr. Pysklywec told the Donovans that Ron’s situation was extremely dire. He required immediate surgery that could not be performed at the Brantford General, and it became a matter of determining whether it would be faster to send Ron by ambulance to Brantford and then on to another site by air ambulance, or to send him by ambulance straight from Paris to the regional hospital where a vascular surgeon would be waiting to perform his surgery.

The Donovans said Dr. Pysklywec made a lot of phone calls before determining where to send Ron and what the best course of action would be.

As the gravity of the situation was setting in, veteran Willett volunteers Carole Moffat and Bev Petersen comforted Pat while she waited to learn where Ron would be sent.

“They were just fantastic,” said Pat of the volunteers. “Their constant reassurance and support really helped to calm us down.”

Ron said after he was settled in to the ambulance, Willett staff advised Pat that it might be unwise to drive herself to meet them at the hospital because they were unsure Ron would even survive the trip; his condition was so precarious. The couple’s daughter arrived to drive Pat instead.

RN Shona Kroeker and a nursing student accompanied Ron in the ambulance to administer pain medication and monitor his condition. He said the lights and sirens were activated during the entire trip and he remembers the ambulance driver becoming upset when someone wouldn’t move out of the way.

When they arrived, Ron was wheeled directly past other patients who were waiting and he was prepared for immediate surgery.

“I said, ‘I love you, but don’t you dare think about leaving me’,” Pat said.

The surgery was performed through a small incision in Ron’s groin. The surgeon inserted three stents – tiny supporting tubes – to strengthen the weakened section of Ron’s aorta. He will live with the stents installed for the rest of his life.

Ron was surprised to be sent home from the hospital the next day, but relieved to know the surgery went well and he was suffering from no negative side effects.

“I was so overprotective during his recovery, and I know it,” said Pat, who kept Ron from doing anything too strenuous while he recuperated.

Once Ron was feeling up to it, the couple returned to The Willett to thank the staff for their quick and decisive actions.

“When we went back to The Willett, I told Dr. Mike point blank, ‘Thanks to you, I’m alive. You saved my life’,” said Ron.

Pat said they learned later that the hospital staff doesn’t see many abdominal aortic aneurysm cases.

“From what we know now, it’s more likely a coroner sees more AAA cases than a doctor,” said Ron grimly.

Having access to medical professionals and advanced diagnostic imaging technology at The Willett was the key to finding Ron’s AAA, said the couple.

“The Willett fills such a need in the community,” said Ron. “Not just for Paris, but for the whole area. To us, it’s vitally important. It’s a life saver.”

As the Donovan family knows first-hand, when a health crisis or emergency affects you or a loved one, Brant Community Healthcare System is here to provide exceptional, professional and compassionate care in your time of need.

Behind each success of the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) Foundation is the generosity of our community, our donors and volunteers. This continued commitment has enabled us to put our patients first by helping us to provide the right equipment, at the right time, when it matters most.

Now is the time to make a difference, please consider making a gift today that is meaningful to you, and support a strong healthcare system for our community.

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